Convertible street-car.



w. A. MGGARRELL, JR.

CONVERTIBLE STREET CAR. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 190a.

PATBNTBD OCT. 11, 1904.

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PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

w. A. MoOARRELL, JR. CONVERTIBLE STREET GAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1903.

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No. 772,110. PATENTED 001211, 1904.

' w. A. MOOARRELL, JR,

CONVERTIBLE STREET CAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.9,1903.

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WITNESSES 'I I [NVENTOR fiilmmH W I I. Attorney UNITED STATES Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CONVERTIBLE STREET-CAR- SPECIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 77 2,110, dated October 11, 1904.

Application filed December 9,1903. Serial No. 184,455. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. MCCARRELL J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Street- (lars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway rollingstock, and has special reference to an improvement in street-cars whereby the same are rendered convertible from open to closed type, and vice versa.

To this end the invention has in view the equipment of a car-body with simple and improved means whereby the same, with great facility and rapidity, can be converted from an open summer-car to a closed type of car, such as employed in winter and during stormy weather. This result is accomplished by equipping the car with permanent fittings admitting of the ready con version from one type to another, thus obviating the necessity of railway companies providing both summer and winter cars, while at the same time dispensing with the necessity of storing extra cars which are not in actual service at different seasons of the year.

Furthermore, the invention provides simple and improved means whereby the comfort of the public is conserved by reason of permitting an open car to be quickly closed into a storm-car upon the occasion of sudden storms.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential feature of the invention involved in the novel arrangement and mounting of panels to provide for converting the carbody from one type to another is necessarily susceptible to structural change without departing from the scope of the invention; but a preferred. embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an outline side elevation of a portion of a street-car, showing the improvelapsed and folded out of the way.

ments adapted thereto. Fig. 2 isa vertical transverse sectional view showing the stormpanel swung up to a closed position for converting the car-body into an ordinary closed type. Fig. 3 is a horizontal-sectional view, somewhat enlarged, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the trap-door open to expose the housing-pocket for the storm-panels when col- Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of one section of the car-body, showing a pair of the side posts and the storm-panel attachment associated therewith. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig.

4:. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view showing 5 a form of sash-holder that may be utilized for securing the Window-sash in its position covering the upper portion of the open space between the side posts. Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary elevation of the parts illustrated in 7 Fig. 6. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the closed weather-board panel which accommodates the sliding window-sash. Fig.

8 is a detail elevation of the storm-panel attachment per se composed of the closed weather- 7 5 board panel and the sliding window-sash. Fig.

9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 8.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention no special change is required in the construction or form of the modern open-type summer-car embodying in its organization the usual car- 5 body 1, having the usual floor 10, roof 10 and a series of upright side posts 9, arranged in regular spaced parallel relation at the sides of the car-body and extending from the floor to the roof and providing in the intervals 9 therebetween the side openings 9, located at the ends of the seats for the ordinary purposes.

The present invention contemplates associating with each side opening 9 and hence with the pair of posts 9, constituting the side Walls of such opening, a stormpanel attachment which can be readily thrown to'a closed position within the side opening 9 or to ahoused position entirely out of the way, according as 0 the car is to be converted into a closed or open type. This panel attachment may be designated in its entirety by the reference-letter P and is shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. It essentially consists of a closed weather-board panel 4 and a sliding window-sash 3, combined therewith to provide an arrangement whereby the entire side opening 9 may be closed to storms and other weather conditions, while at the same time the ordinary window is provided for observation and light. The closed weather-board panel is constructed of any desired style in harmony with the general body of the car, so as to produce a uniform closed panel effect around the car-body when all of the stormpanel attachments are secured in their closed positions; but irrespective of the style or ornamentation of the closed and imperforated weather-board panel 4 of each stormpanel attachment the important feature of the present invention resides in constructing the said panel 4 of a'hollow form to provide a sashcasing for accommodating therein the sliding window-sash 3 to provide for properly housing the sash 3 and at the same time facilitating the sliding movement thereof. The panel or sash-casing 4 is provided at opposite inner sides thereof with the guide-grooves 4, slidably engaged by'the side members of the sashframe. Also the said panel or sash-casing4is provided at what might be properly termed its upper side with a window-sill member 4 having an opening 4 therein, through which the sliding sash moves when being drawn out or slid back into its casing.

The sliding window-sash 3 is of a conventional form, the same consisting of an ordinary rectangular sash frame having fitted therein the glass pane or light 3*, which provides the ordinary window, and at its upper end the frame of. the sash 3 preferably has fitted thereto a handle 13 for convenience in moving the same in and out of its casing.

Each storm-panel attachment P is designed to be swung to active or inactive positions. To accomplish this, the weather-board panel 4 is mounted at its lower side or end upon the hinges 6 on the bottom sill of the side opening 9, whereby the said panel 4, with its inclosed sash 3, may be conveniently swung in and out of a temporary housing-pocket 5, provided within the floor portion of the car-body and below the level of the main flooring. The housing-pocket 5 for each storm-panel attachment is of a suflicient area to completely inclose or house such attachment, and in the base of each pocket there is arranged reststrips 12, upon which are mounted suitable cushions 12 to provide a cushioned rest for the panel when folded into the pocket. The

open upper side of each housing-pocket 5 is designed to be covered and uncovered through the medium of the trap-door 5, hinged, as at 7 to the floor of the car-body.

When the car is to be converted from an open type to a closed form, the trap-door 5 of each pocket is first opened and then the weather-board panel 4 swung up between the adjacent side posts 9. (Shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.) In such position the panel 4'is secured in place by the panel-fastenings 8, which may be conveniently in the form of bolts carried at the inner side of the panel 4 and adapted to be moved into engagement with the side posts 9, as shown in Fig. 4. With the panel 4 secured in this position the window-sash 3 may be readily drawn up to cover the upper portion of the side opening 9, and during such adjustment the sashframe is designed to slidably engage the sashguiding strips 3 secured to the inner sides of the posts 9, as plainly shown in Fig. 5. The sash 3 may be provided with the usual friction-springs engaging the guides therefor; but to insure the holding thereof in its closed position there is preferably associated with the same a sash-holder 15. This sash-holder may be of any suitable construction; but a convenient form is illustrated Figs. 6 and 6, in which there is shown a catch-plate 15, having a hinged mounting 15 upon the windowsill member 4 and whose free end is adapted to be engaged with a keeper-notch 15, provided in the lower rail of the sash-frame. However, any other suitable arrangement of the sash-holder may be resorted to to effect the fastening of the sliding sash when drawn up and at the same time permit of the ready release thereof for dropping the same into its casing 4.

To render the car perfectly weatherproof when converted to a closed type, weatherstrips 11 are preferably arranged along the longitudinal side edges of the posts 9 and overlapthe side edges of the storm-panel attachment. Also a bottom strip 10 may be arranged to lap the bottom edge of the sev eral attachments in their closed positions, as plainly shown in Fig. 5. Also a stationary transom T may be fitted to the top of each side opening 9 to maintain the usual car construction and permit of the use of a sash 3 of ordinary dimensions.

In order that there may be no interference with the manipulation of the panel attachments P, the car-seats S are preferably supported upon standards 8, having pivotal mountings s at their lower ends upon the carfioor at points in the transverse plane of the side posts 9, whereby the seats may be swung to positions out of the way of the trap-doors 5 and the panels 4 when the attachments are being manipulated for converting the car from one type to the other. Any equivalent mounting of the seats would subserve the same purpose.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described car equipment will be readily understood withont further description, and it will also be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a convertible street-car, the combination with the body having open spaces at the sides, of a swinging sash-carrying panel movable into and out of each of said spaces.

2. In a convertible street-car, the combination with the body having open spaces at the sides,of a swinging weather-board panel movable into and out of each of said spaces, and a sliding window-sash carried by said panel.

3. In a convertible street-car, the combination with the body having open spaces at the sides, of a closed Weather-board panel for each open space having a hinged support and movable into and out of such space, and a sliding window-sash housed within the panel and slidable to a closing position above the same.

L. In a convertible street-car, the combination with the body having open spaces at the sides, of a storm-panel attachment for each open space comprising a closed Weather-board panel having an interior sash-receiving casing and having a hinge-support at one end, a sliding sash movable into and out of the panel, fastening means for securing the panel in an upright position, and holding means for se curingthe sash in its extended position.

5. In a convertible street-car, the combination of 'the body having open spaces at the sides and a housing-pocket contiguous to each space, and a sash-carrying panel for each open space arranged to be shifted into said pocket and also into an upright closing position within the open space.

6. In a convertible street-car, thecombina- I tion of the body having open spaces atthe sides and a covered housing-pocket contiguous to each space, a swinging weather-board panel for each space having a fixed hinge-support and movable into the housing-pocket and also into an upright closing position withinthe open space, and a sliding window-sash slidable into and out of said panel.

7 In a convertible street-car, the combination of the body having open spaces at the sides and a housing-pocket contiguous to each space, a hinged trap-door for each pocket, a cushioned rest Within each pocket, and a sashcarrying panel for each open space having a hinge-support and movable into the adjacent pocket.

8. In a convertible street-car, the combination of the body having open spaces at the sides and vertical posts bounding such spaces and provided at their sides With sash-guiding strips, said posts being also provided along their side and bottom edges with weatherstrips, and a storm-panel attachment for each open space comprising a hollow weatherboard panel, and a sliding window-sash slidable into and out of said panel and engaging with said guiding-strips when drawn to a closing position, said panel having a hinge-support and movable into and out of the open space with which it cooperates, and separate fastenings respectively for the panel and the sliding sash.

9. In a convertible street-car, the combination of the body having open spaces at the sides and a housing-pocket contiguous to each open space and within the vertical plane thereof, a storm-panel attachment for each space movable into the same and also into the pocket, and car-seats having supportingstandards mounted on the car-floor at one side of the plane of the housing-pockets.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I/VILLIAM A. MOCARRELL, JR. Witnesses:

WILLIAM C. H. RoBINsoN, Mrs. N. E. GEE. 

